Information display

ABSTRACT

A method displaying information for viewing by a user characterised by the steps of: peripherally displaying primary information ( 5 ) on a first focal plane ( 3 ), and displaying secondary information ( 6 ) on at least a second focal plane ( 2 ) to said primary information ( 5 ), wherein said secondary information ( 6 ) exhibits at least one characteristic capable of augmenting the effect of the primary information ( 5 ) on the viewer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an information displayand more specifically to multi focal plane information displays and amethod of enhancing information extraction from same.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Any potential improvements in the input speed, comprehensionand/or retention of information gained via reading would be clearlybeneficial to a wide spectrum of users in many diverse applications.

[0003] It is believed that use may be made of the readers subconsciousto enhance the recognised conscious reading mechanisms typicallyemployed during the reading of books, computer screens, visual displaysand so forth. Current means of increasing the quantity of informationavailable to the reader have largely involved decreasing the font sizeto provide a greater quantity of text surface area. However, thistechnique fails to overcome the inherent limitations of the human eye,i.e. reducing the text font size below a certain level causes asignificant reduction in readability.

[0004] Menus, layering, pop-up windows and so forth have been usedsingle focal plane prior art displays as alternative means of enhancingthe quantity of information available to the reader without making thedisplay overly cluttered.

[0005] Although the use of menus and similar hierarchical displaymethods do enable the user to access the required information withoutthe need for large display surfaces or undue display clutter, theyreduce the viewer's situational awareness. Moreover, they requirepositive interaction by the user, which is not always practical ordesirable and are unavoidably slower to use than continuously displayedinformation.

[0006] Multi-layer or multi-focal plane displays have been utilised toaddress the above difficulties whereby two or more display screens atleast partially overlap, displaying information in two or more distinctfocal planes. The viewer may thus focus on the individual screens toview the information displayed thereon without accessing a menu orneeding to make significant head/eye movements to scan large displaysurfaces.

[0007] Research such as the Transparent Layered User Interfaces: AnEvaluation of a Display Design to Enhance Focused and Divided Attention,Harrison et al, CHI 95 Conference (1995) examined the link oftransparent displays on focused and/or divided attention.

[0008] Examples of focused attention include a computer software dialogbox or warning message interrupting a user concentrating on a document,or part of a display screen being temporarily obscured by a drop-downmenu.

[0009] Divided attention examples provided by Harrison et al includeusing a video display showing a colleague during collaborational work,were the participant's attention is shared between the colleague and thework in progress, e.g., a drawing or document.

[0010] Harrison et al considered cases of individuals needing totime-share two information items or ‘tasks’ (divided attention), andcases were individuals selectively attend to one task excluding theother (focused attention). However, no specific exploration is made ofthe potential benefit of the unfocused information item on an individualfocusing on another information item/task.

[0011] Various means of simultaneously displaying and analysing largeliterary text is disclosed at the TextArc™ website http:/textarc.org (15Apr. 2002). The display techniques employed are highly unusual andinnovative. In one embodiment, the entire text of a novel for example,is arranged in concentric spirals. Each successive line of the novel iswritten in miniature around the outside of the spiral, with frequentlyoccurring words also being displayed in a larger font within the spiralarc. The frequency of occurrence within the document is denoted by theword's intensity or luminance, while its location is determined by themean geometrical position between occurrences about the outer spiral.Additional displays of the text in a conventional form may be overlaidon the spiral arc representation, enhancing the pre-attentivepossibilities for the viewer. As the viewer scrolls through theconventional text, the high frequency words are illuminated within thespiral, together with radial lines extending to each point in the spiralcontaining the word.

[0012] A viewer may thus see a measure of a word's significance, itsinterconnection to other words and its effective location within adocument. The viewer is thus presented with exposure to the bottom upstructure of the entire document and to a variety of interrelationshipsbetween the contents.

[0013] However, the combined/overlapping display obscures a portion ofthe text spiral arrangement. Furthermore, the sheer wealth of visualinput in one focal plane may be distracting and hinder preattentiveintake by the viewer.

[0014] Further prior art work by Ishii H et al, “Iterative Design ofSeamless Collaboration Media”, Communications of the ACM (CACM), ACM,Vol 37, No. 8, August 1994, and the work described at the web siteshttp://web.media.mit.edu/˜ishii/TWS.html, andhttp://web.media.mit.edu/˜ishii/CB.html by the same authors discussescombination computer display/whiteboard-type transparent displays. Theissue addressed by Ishii et al is creating a usable work spaceenvironment combining the benefits of a computer screen interface, aphysical desktop and a dual sided transparent glass-board. The resultantsystem provides a display surface on which the images of collaborativeworkers appear to face the user whilst any text/drawing written by anyof the collaborators/users automatically appears with the correctorientation on the combined display. This overcomes the problem ofinversion caused by collaborating users writing on opposing sides of acommon transparent panel. The meaning of facial gestures and bodylanguage nuances of the collaborators regarding particular items in theworkspace screen may be easily discerned. However, again the displaysurface is essentially a single focal plane and thus does not take fulladvantage of the preattentive depth-related capabilities of the user, asdescribed below.

[0015] The benefits of multi-layered viewing screens, in particularthose utilising the technology described in the co-pending PatentApplication Nos. NZ314566, NZ328074, NZ329130, PCT/NZ98/00098 andPCT/NZ99/00021 are gaining increasingly widespread recognition andacceptance due to their enhanced capabilities compared to conventionalsingle focal plane displays.

[0016] The basic principle of known multi-focal plane displays is thatthe viewer consciously applies their attention to one of the focalplanes individually or to a composite image found by the combination ofimages displayed on at least partially transparent screens.

[0017] Therefore, although the viewing experience may be enriched by thepotential sense of depth provided by such composite displays, it has notbeen utilised thus far as a means of enhancing the reading/imageassimilation speed of the viewer, nor of using the information displayedon one focal plane to improve the net effect on a user consciouslyviewing the display on a separate focal plane. Such improved effectscould include improvements in comprehension, perception, retention,recall, interpretation and/or association with related information.

[0018] The manner in which human beings process visual information hasbeen the subject of extensive and prolonged research in an attempt tounderstand this complex process. The term preattentive processing hasbeen coined to denote the act of the subconscious mind in analysing andprocessing visual information which has not become the focus of theviewer's conscious awareness.

[0019] When viewing a large number of visual elements, certainvariations or properties in the visual characteristics of elements canlead to rapid detection by preattentive processing.

[0020] This is significantly faster than requiring a user toindividually scan each element, scrutinising for the presence of thesaid properties. Exactly what properties lend themselves to preattentiveprocessing has in itself been the subject of substantial research.Colour, shape, three-dimensional visual clues, orientation, movement anddepth have all been investigated to discern the germane visual featuresthat trigger effective preattentive processing.

[0021] Researchers such as Triesman [1985] conducted experiments usingtarget and boundary detection in an attempt to classify preattentivefeatures. Preattentive target detection was tested by determiningwhether a target element was present or absent within a field ofbackground distractor elements. Boundary detection involves attemptingto detect the boundary formed by a group of target elements with aunique visual feature set within distractors. It maybe readilyvisualised for example that a red circle would be immediatelydiscernible set amongst a number of blue circles. Equally, a circlewould be readily detectable if set amongst a number of square shapeddistractors. In order to test for preattentiveness, the number ofdistractors as seen is varied and if the search time required toidentify the targets remains constant, irrespective of the number ofdistractors, the search is said to be preattentive. Similar search timelimitations are used to classify boundary detection searches aspreattentive.

[0022] A widespread threshold time used to classify preattentiveness is200-250 msec as this only allows the user opportunity for a single‘look’ at a scene. This timeframe is insufficient for a human toconsciously decide to look at a different portion of the scene. Searchtasks such as those stated above maybe accomplished in less than 200msec, thus suggesting that the information in the display is beingprocessed in parallel unattendedly or pre-attentively.

[0023] However, if the target is composed of a conjunction of uniquefeatures, i.e. a conjoin search, then research shows that these may notbe detected preattentively. Using the above examples, if a target iscomprised for example, of a red circle set within distractors includingblue circles and red squares, it is not possible to detect the redcircle preattentively as all the distractors include one of the twounique features of the target.

[0024] Whilst the above example is based on a relatively simple visualscene, Enns and Rensink [1990] identified that targets given theappearance of being three-dimensional objects can also be detectedpreattentively. Thus, for example a target represented by a perspectiveview of a cube shaded to indicate illumination from above would bepreattentively detectable amongst a plurality of distractor cubes shadedto imply illumination from a different direction. This illustrates animportant principle in that the relatively complex, high-level conceptof perceived three-dimensionality may be processed preattentively by thesub-conscious mind. In comparison, if the constituent elements of theabove-described cubes are re-orientated to remove the apparent threedimensionality, subjects cannot preattentively detect targets which havebeen inverted for example. Additional experimentation by Brown et al[1992] confirms that it is the three-dimensional orientationcharacteristic that is preattentively detected. Nakaymyama and Silverman[1986] showed that motion and depth were preattentive characteristicsand that furthermore, stereoscopic depth could be used to overcome theeffects of conjoin. This reinforced the work done by Enns Rensink insuggesting that high-level information is conceptually being processedby the low-level visual system of the user. To test the effects ofdepth, subjects were tasked with detecting targets of differentbinocular disparity relative to the distractors. Results showed aconstant response time irrespective of the increase in distractornumbers.

[0025] These experiments were followed by conjoin tasks whereby bluedistractors were placed on a front plane whilst red distractors werelocated on a rear plane and the target was either red on the front planeor blue on the rear plane for stereo colour (SC) conjoin tests, whilststereo and motion (SM) trials utilised distractors on the front planemoving up or on the back plane moving down with a target on either thefront plane moving down or on the back plane moving up.

[0026] Results showed the response time for SC and SM trials wereconstant and below the 250 msec threshold regardless of the number ofdistractors. The trials involved conjoin as the target did not possess afeature unique to all the distractors. However, it appeared theobservers were able to search each plane preattentively in turn withoutinterference from distractors in another plane.

[0027] This research was further reinforced by Melton and Scharff [1998]in a series of experiments in which a search task consisting of locatingan intermediate-sized target amongst large and small distractors testedthe serial nature of the search whereby the target was embedded in thesame plane as the distractors and the preattentive nature of the searchwhereby the target was placed in a separate depth plane to thedistractors.

[0028] The relative influence of the total number of distractors present(regardless of their depth) verses the number of distractors presentsolely in the depth plane of the target was also investigated. Theresults showed a number of interesting features including thesignificant modification of the response time resulting from the targetpresence or absence. In the target absence trials, the reaction times ofall the subjects displayed a direct correspondence to the number ofdistractors whilst the target present trials did not display any suchdependency. Furthermore, it was found that the reaction times ininstances where distractors were spread across multiple depths werefaster than for distractors located in a single depth plane.

[0029] Consequently, the use of a plurality of depth/focal planes as ameans of displaying information can enhance preattentive processing withenhanced reaction/assimilation times.

[0030] It is thus believed that a means of overcoming the abovedescribed drawbacks is available by harnessing the peripheral vision andsubconscious perception of the reader (particularly in conjunction withmulti focal plane displays) to assimilate additional information sourcessimultaneously with the process of conventional reading in order toenhance the speed and effectiveness of the whole reading/viewingprocess.

[0031] The benefits of the multi-layered viewing screens, in particularthose utilising the technology described in the co-pending PatentApplication Nos. NZ314566, NZ328074, NZ329130, PCT/NZ98/00098 andPCT/NZ99/00021 are especially germane to displays using liquid crystaldisplays (LCD).

[0032] There are two main types of Liquid Crystal Displays used incomputer monitors, passive matrix and active matrix. Passive-matrixLiquid Crystal Displays use a simple grid to supply the charge to aparticular pixel on the display. Creating the grid starts with two glasslayers called substrates. One substrate is given columns and the otheris given rows made from a transparent conductive material. This isusually indium tin oxide. The rows or columns are connected tointegrated circuits that control when a charge is sent down a particularcolumn or row. The liquid crystal material is sandwiched between the twoglass substrates, and a polarizing film is added to the outer side ofeach substrate.

[0033] A pixel is defined as the smallest resolvable area of an image,either on a screen or stored in memory. Each pixel in a monochrome imagehas its own brightness, from 0 for black to the maximum value (e.g. 255for an eight-bit pixel) for white. In a colour image, each pixel has itsown brightness and colour, usually represented as a triple of red, greenand blue intensities. To turn on a pixel, the integrated circuit sends acharge down the correct column of one substrate and a ground activatedon the correct row of the other. The row and column intersect at thedesignated pixel and that delivers the voltage to untwist the liquidcrystals at that pixel.

[0034] The passive matrix system has significant drawbacks, notably slowresponse time and imprecise voltage control. Response time refers to theLiquid Crystal Displays ability to refresh the image displayed.Imprecise voltage control hinders the passive matrix's ability toinfluence only one pixel at a time. When voltage is applied to untwistone pixel, the pixels around it also partially untwist, which makesimages appear fuzzy and lacking in contrast.

[0035] Active-matrix Liquid Crystal Displays depend on thin filmtransistors (TFT). Thin film transistors are tiny switching transistorsand capacitors. They are arranged in a matrix on a glass substrate. Toaddress a particular pixel, the proper row is switched on, and then acharge is sent down the correct column. Since all of the other rows thatthe column intersects are turned off, only the capacitor at thedesignated pixel receives a charge. The capacitor is able to hold thecharge until the next refresh cycle. And if the amount of voltagesupplied to the crystal is carefully controlled, it can be made tountwist only enough to allow some light through. By doing this in veryexact, very small increments, Liquid Crystal Displays can create a greyscale. Most displays today offer 256 levels of brightness per pixel.

[0036] A Liquid Crystal Display that can show colours must have threesubpixels with red, green and blue colour filters to create each colourpixel. Through the careful control and variation of the voltage applied,the intensity of each subpixel can range over 256 shades. Combining thesubpixel produces a possible palette of 16.8 million colours (256 shadesof red×256 shades of green×256 shades of blue).

[0037] Liquid Crystal Displays employ several variations of liquidcrystal technology, including super twisted nematics, dual scan twistednematics, ferroelectric liquid crystal and surface stabilizedferroelectric liquid crystal. They can be lit using ambient light inwhich case they are termed as reflective, backlit and termedTransmissive, or a combination of backlit and reflective and calledtransflective. There are also emissive technologies such as OrganicLight Emitting Diodes, and technologies which project an image directlyonto the back of the retina which are addressed in the same manner asLiquid Crystal Displays. These devices are described hereafter as LCDpanels

[0038] All references, including any patents or patent applicationscited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. Noadmission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. Thediscussion of the references states what their authors assert, and theapplicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency ofthe cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although anumber of prior art publications are referred to herein, this referencedoes not constitute an admission that any of these documents form partof the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in anyother country.

[0039] It is acknowledged that the term ‘comprise’ may, under varyingjurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusivemeaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwisenoted, the term ‘comprise’ shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e. that itwill be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components itdirectly references, but also other non-specified components orelements. This rationale will also be used when the term ‘comprised’ or‘comprising’ is used in relation to one or more steps in a method orprocess.

[0040] It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoingproblems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

[0041] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way ofexample only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0042] According to one aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method displaying information for viewing by a user

[0043] characterised by the steps of:

[0044] a) displaying primary information on a first focal plane, and

[0045] b) displaying secondary information on at least a second focalplane peripherally to said primary information, wherein said secondaryinformation exhibits at least one characteristic capable of augmentingthe effect of the primary information on the user.

[0046] As used herein, the primary information and secondary informationmay be comprised of alpha-numeric characters, symbols, plain text,images, animations, video sequences, a combination of same and any othermeans of visually representing information.

[0047] The terms primary and secondary information are not defined toinfer or necessarily suggest any hierarchical relationship or degree ofrelative importance between the primary and secondary information.Rather, the term primary information is simply denotes the informationbeing viewed directly by the user and being interpreted by normalconscious thought processes associated with reading or viewing images.

[0048] The said effect of the secondary information on a user viewingthe primary information may include, but is not limited to:

[0049] an improved assimilation of the content or message contained bythe primary information, including reading and/or comprehension speed;

[0050] an enhanced ability to perceive embedded, implied or relatedfacts (directly or indirectly), links, nuances, innuendoes orassociations regarding the primary information;

[0051] a greater understanding and comprehension of the primaryinformation;

[0052] improved retention and latent recall of the primary information;

[0053] more enjoyment than experienced by viewing the primaryinformation in isolation.

[0054] The said augmenting effect on a user may be achieved by,

[0055] displaying the secondary information on multiple focal planes,with substantially the same content and format as the primaryinformation;

[0056] displaying the secondary information on multiple focal planes,with substantially the same content in a different format and/or visualappearance to the primary information;

[0057] displaying one of either the primary or secondary information ona rearward display screen before or after displaying the other of saidprimary or secondary information on a forward display screen.

[0058] the application of variable format to either or both of saidprimary or secondary information including, but not limited to speed,colour, repetition, visual effects, motion, looming, scrolling,blinking, fading and/or size change.

[0059] the static use of format including but not limited to speed,colour, repetition, visual effects, motion, looming, scrolling,blinking, fading and size change applied to either or both primaryand/or secondary information.

[0060] displaying graphics/images as at least part of said secondaryinformation capable of eliciting a priming, pre-fetching, anticipating,associating or triggering response by a viewer viewing the primaryinformation.

[0061] any and all combinations and/or permutations of the above.

[0062] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a multi-focal plane display including at least two at leastpartially overlapping display surfaces, capable of displayingInformation according to the above-described method.

[0063] Thus, while prior research has included three attentionalcomponents, i.e., an individual's capacity to divide attention betweentwo items, the ability to focus on any single item with minimalinterference from other items and the recovery time/latency involved inshifting attention between items, these fail to address the potentialadvantage/benefit of subconscious information assimilation duringfocused or divided attention activity.

[0064] The present invention may also incorporate existing technologicalapplications displaying primary and secondary information, presentlydirected to use in single focal plane displays and/or wherein saidsecondary information lacks at least one characteristic capable ofaugmenting the effect of the primary information on the user.

[0065] Thus, according to a further aspect of the present invention, oneof said primary or secondary information includes simultaneouslydisplaying all or a substantial portion of a written work on either ofsaid first and second focal planes.

[0066] Preferably, said written work is composed of text arranged in anenclosing geometric pattern, preferably a concentric spiral.

[0067] In one embodiment, recurring text items are displayedindividually at a mean geometrical position between occurrences of thetext item about the concentric spiral.

[0068] In a further embodiment, the text item frequency of occurrencedocument in the written work is denoted by a corresponding variation inintensity or luminance of the text item

[0069] Preferably, the other of said primary or secondary informationincludes displaying a portion of said written work.

[0070] As the viewer scrolls through the conventional text, the highfrequency words are illuminated within the spiral, together with radiallines extending to each point in the spiral containing the word.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0071] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description which is given by way of example only andwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0072]FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a dual screendisplay operating in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0073]FIG. 1 shows a multi focal plane display operating in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The displayindicated by the general reference numeral (1) is preliminary comprisedof a background screen (2) orientated parallel with, but spaced apartfrom a foreground screen (3). In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.1, both screens (2, 3) are transparent liquid crystal displays LCDpanels though the invention is not necessarily limited to same. Aback-light (4) is located behind the rearward screen (2) to provideillumination for the whole display (1).

[0074] The display screens (2, 3) are each capable of displaying eitherprimary (5) or secondary (6) information. FIG. 1 shows primaryinformation (5) displayed on the forward screen (3) and secondaryinformation (6) displayed on the rearward screen (2). It will beappreciated that the converse situation is equally feasible, ie theprimary information (5) being displayed on the rearward screen (2) andvice versa The primary information (5) and secondary information (6) mayboth be comprised of any form of text, symbols, alphanumeric characters,animations and so forth. However, the content of the secondaryinformation (6) is such that a user viewing the primary information (5)on the forward screen (3) would receive a beneficial affect due to someenhancing or augmenting quality of the secondary information (6). Thisenhancing quality may take many forms and these include, but are notlimited to an increased reading and/or comprehension speed of theprimary information (5), a greater retention, perception of relatedinformation and so forth. As an example, a information passagedescribing a geographical location written in conventional text on theforward screen (3) the primary information (5) in the form of being readby a user would fall within the definition of the primary information(5) in that the information would be the focus of the viewers consciousreading actions and occupying their direct attention. A representationof the content of the primary information (5) may be shown concurrentlyin graphical form on the rearward screen (2) as the secondaryinformation (6). This exemplary scenario is illustrated in FIG. 1whereby the primary information (5) is a text passage describing thesunrise over a particular mountain feature and the secondary informationprovides a visual representation of the actual mountain and rising sun.The location of the rearward screen (2) in a second focal plane behindthat of the primary information on the forward screen (3) results inonly a peripheral, subconscious awareness of the content of thesecondary information to the user viewing the primary information (5).

[0075] The user will therefore experience a greater sense of the actualphysical shape and surroundings to the feature described in the textualdescription(s) on the forward screen (3) enhancing their readingexperience.

[0076] An alternative technique to enhance the reading speed of a useris to display a particular piece of text as the primary information (5)on the forward screen (3) whilst displaying the next section of text tobe read on the rearward screen (2) as the secondary information (6). Thesecondary information (6) thus pre-fetches the text about to be read bythe user and thus primes the users subconscious to be more receptive andaware of its content. It is believed that this subconscious imbibing ofthe additional text increases the quantity of information accessible bythe mind and ultimately increases the reading speed and comprehension ofthe whole message.

[0077] Instead of displaying the secondary information (6)simultaneously with the primary information (5), it may alternatively beshown slightly before or after displaying the primary information (5)respectively providing a pre-conditioning or re-enforcing effect on theuser reading the primary information (5). It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that many variations and permutations are possibleregarding the content of the primary and secondary information (5, 6),the focal plane location/orientation of their respective displays (2,3),and the manner of displaying the primary and secondary information(5,6,) without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0078] It will be equally apparent that the invention need notnecessarily be comprised of information shown on exactly two liquidcrystal displays, provided that the effect of viewing the primaryinformation (5) (displayed in whatever form) is augmented by theperipheral assimilation of the secondary information (6) being displayedon one or more focal planes distinct from the primary information (5).

[0079] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way ofexample only and it should be appreciated that modifications andadditions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

1. A method displaying information for viewing by a user characterizedby the steps of: displaying primary information on a first focal plane,and displaying secondary information on at least a second focal planeperipherally to said primary information, wherein said secondaryinformation exhibits at least one characteristic, in addition to aperception of depth, capable of augmenting the effect of the primaryinformation on the user.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe primary information and secondary information are selected from thegroup comprising alpha-numeric characters, symbols, plain text, images,animations, video sequences, a combination of same and any means ofvisually representing information.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the said effect of the secondary information on a user viewingthe primary information includes one or more of; an improvedassimilation of the content or message contained by the primaryinformation; an improved reading and/or comprehension speed; an enhancedability to embedded, implied or related facts (directly or indirectly),links, nuances, innuendoes or associations regarding the primaryinformation; a greater understanding and comprehension of the primaryinformation; improved retention of the primary information; improvedlatent recall of the primary information; and/or a more rewardingexperience than obtained by viewing the primary information inisolation.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the saidaugmenting effect on a user is achieved by displaying the secondaryinformation on multiple focal planes, with substantially the samecontent and format as the primary information.
 5. The method as claimedin claim 1, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user is achieved bydisplaying the secondary information on multiple focal planes, withsubstantially the same content in a different format and/or visualappearance to the primary information.
 6. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user is achieved bydisplaying one of either the primary or secondary information on arearward display screen before or after displaying the other of saidprimary or secondary information on a forward display screen.
 7. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said augmenting effect on auser is achieved by the application of variable format to either or bothof said primary or secondary information including, but not limited toone or more of speed, colour, repetition, visual effects, motion,looming, scrolling, blinking, fading and/or size change.
 8. The methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user isachieved by the static use of format including but not limited to one ormore of speed, colour, repetition, visual effects, motion, looming,scrolling, blinking, fading and size change applied to either or bothprimary and/or secondary information.
 9. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user is achieved bydisplaying graphics/images as at least part of said secondaryinformation capable of eliciting at least one of a priming, prefetching,anticipating, associating or triggering response by a viewer viewing theprimary information.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein oneof said primary or secondary information includes simultaneouslydisplaying all or a substantial portion of a written work on a singlefocal plane.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said writtenwork is composed of text items arranged in an enclosing geometricpattern, preferably a concentric spiral.
 12. The method as claimed inclaim 11, wherein recurring text items are displayed individually at amean geometrical position between occurrences of the text item about theconcentric spiral.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein thetext item frequency of occurrence in the written work is denoted by acorresponding variation in intensity or luminance of the text item. 14.The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the other of said primary orsecondary information includes displaying a portion of said written workin a conventional typographical layout.
 15. The method as claimed inclaim 10, where in use, as a viewer reads said portion of the writtenwork, text items occurring in said portion and occurring more than oncein the whole written work are illuminated within the geometric shape.16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein in use, as a viewer readssaid portion of the written work, text items occurring in said portionand occurring more than once in the whole written work are displayedwith radial lines extending to each point in the spiral containing theword.
 17. A multi-focal plane display including at least two at leastpartially overlapping display surfaces, capable of displayinginformation according to the method as claimed in claim
 1. 18.(cancelled).
 19. (cancelled).
 20. The method as claimed in claim 3,wherein the said augmenting effect on a user is achieved by displayingthe secondary information on multiple focal planes, with substantiallythe same content and format as the primary information.
 21. The methodas claimed in claim 3, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user isachieved by displaying the secondary information on multiple focalplanes, with substantially the same content in a different format and/orvisual appearance to the primary information.
 22. The method as claimedin claim 3, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user is achieved bydisplaying one of either the primary or secondary information on arearward display screen before or after displaying the other of saidprimary or secondary information on a forward display screen.
 23. Themethod as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said augmenting effect on auser is achieved by the application of variable format to either or bothof said primary or secondary information including, but not limited toone or more of speed, colour, repetition, visual effects, motion,looming, scrolling, blinking, fading and/or size change.
 24. The methodas claimed in claim 3, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user isachieved by the static use of format including but not limited to one ormore of speed, colour, repetition, visual effects, motion, looming,scrolling, blinking, fading and size change applied to either or bothprimary and/or secondary information.
 25. The method as claimed in claim3, wherein the said augmenting effect on a user is achieved bydisplaying graphics/images as at least part of said secondaryinformation capable of eliciting at least one of a priming, prefetching,anticipating, associating or triggering response by a viewer viewing theprimary information.
 26. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein oneof said primary or secondary information includes simultaneouslydisplaying all or a substantial portion of a written work on a singlefocal plane.
 27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said writtenwork is composed of text items arranged in an enclosing geometricpattern, preferably a concentric spiral.
 28. The method as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the other of said primary or secondary informationincludes displaying a portion of said written work in a conventionaltypographical layout.
 29. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein theother of said primary or secondary information includes displaying aportion of said written work in a conventional typographical layout. 30.The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the other of said primary orsecondary information includes displaying a portion of said written workin a conventional typographical layout.
 31. The method as claimed inclaim 11, where in use, as a viewer reads said portion of the writtenwork, text items occurring in said portion and occurring more than oncein the whole written work are illuminated within the geometric shape.32. The method as claimed in claim 12, where in use, as a viewer readssaid portion of the written work, text items occurring in said portionand occurring more than once in the whole written work are illuminatedwithin the geometric shape.
 33. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein use, as a viewer reads said portion of the written work, text itemsoccurring in said portion and occurring more than once in the wholewritten work are illuminated within the geometric shape.
 34. Amulti-focal plane display including at least two at least partiallyoverlapping display surfaces, capable of displaying informationaccording to the method of claim
 1. 35. A multi-focal plane displayincluding at least two at least partially overlapping display surfaces,capable of displaying information according to the method of claim 2.36. A multi-focal plane display including at least two at leastpartially overlapping display surfaces, capable of displayinginformation according to the method of claim
 3. 37. A multi-focal planedisplay including at least two at least partially overlapping displaysurfaces, capable of displaying information according to the method ofclaim
 4. 38. A multi-focal plane display including at least two at leastpartially overlapping display surfaces, capable of displayinginformation according to the method of claim
 5. 39. A multi-focal planedisplay including at least two at least partially overlapping displaysurfaces, capable of displaying information according to the method ofclaim
 6. 40. A multi-focal plane display including at least two at leastpartially overlapping display surfaces, capable of displayinginformation according to the method of claim
 7. 41. A multi-focal planedisplay including at least two at least partially overlapping displaysurfaces, capable of displaying information according to the method ofclaim
 8. 42. A multi-focal plane display including at least two at leastpartially overlapping display surfaces, capable of displayinginformation according to the method of claim
 9. 43. A multi-focal planedisplay including at least two at least partially overlapping displaysurfaces, capable of displaying information according to the method ofclaim 10.